Core sampling apparatus



Dec. 4, 1962 .1. R. DOHERTY CORE SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6, 1957 United States Patent Gflflce 3,666,748 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,066,748 CORE SAMPLKNG APPARATUS Jack R. Doherty, Albuquerque, N. Mex., assignor to Reverse Circulation Core-Barrel, llnc., N.S.L., Albuquerque, N. Mex, a corporation of New Mexico Filed Sept. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 682,479 1 Claim. (Cl. 175-247) This invention relates to a drilling apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for use in removing or recovering samples from the ground being drilled.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for use in removing or recovering samples from the ground or earth being drilled or worked on, and wherein there is provided a means for moving the sampling device down into its proper position to receive the core, and wherein the core sampling device can be returned to the top of the pipe after the sample has been taken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a core sampling device which includes a means for moving an inner core barrel down into the area to be sampled, and wherein after the core sample has been picked up by the movable barrel, the device can be returned to the up position so that the core can be examined and studied for the usual purposes, the device of the present invention being operable by means of the fluid medium which is adapted to be circulated either down through the drill pipe as when the core sampling device is moved downward, or wherein the fluid medium can be sucked up through the drill pipe when the core sampling device is being returned to the top of the drill pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a core sampling device for a drilling apparatus which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the core sampling device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the coil spring compressed.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral it) indicates a drill pipe, and arranged below the drill pipe ll is an outer core barrel 11 which has cutting teeth 14 on the lower end thereof, and the barrel 11 is adapted to be connected to the lower end of the drill pipe as at 12.

Arranged within the outer barrel 11 is an inner core barrel 13, and guide members 15 may project inwardly from the outer barrel 11, as shown in FIGURE 1. A suitable securing element such as the bolt 16 extends through a spacer member 17 for connecting the upper end of the barrel 13 to the lower end of a support member 13, and secured to the upper end of the support member 18 or formed integral therewith is a body member 19.

The body member 19 is adapted to abut stop members 24 which are arranged in spaced apart relation with respect to each other as for example as shown in FIG- URE 3. Extending through the body member 19 is a bolt 20, and the bolt 26 has a disc 21 mounted thereon. The disc 21 is adapted to be made of a suitable resilient material such as a rubber or plastic like material. The bolt is threaded as at 22, and a nut or fastener is threaded on the portion 22 of the bolt 20, the nut 25 abutting the upper surface of the disc 21. A coil spring 23 is circumposed on the bolt 29, and the coil spring 23 is interposed between the disc 21 and body member 19.

Referring to FlGURE 4 of the drawings, there is shown a modification wherein the numeral 26 indicates a portion of a drill pipe while the numeral 27 indicates an outer core barrel which is connected to the drill pipe 26 by means of a coupling 28. A movable rod or stem 29 ex tends upwardly from the barrel Z7 and into the drill pipe 26, and the upper end of the rod 29 is threaded as at 30. A nut 31 is arranged in threaded engagement with the upper portion 30 of the rod 29, and a block 32 is slidably mounted on the rod 29. A disc 33 of yieldable material is positioned on the rod 29 between the nut 31 and the block 32, and a plurality of outwardly bowed spring members 34 are also provided. The intermediate portions of the spring members 34 are secured to the disc 33, while the upper ends of the spring members 34 are connected to the nut 31, and the lower ends of the spring members 34 are secured to the movable block 32.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a core sampling device wherein core samples can be readily removed from the ground being drilled, and when using the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, for example, the outer barrel 11 is adapted to be threadedly connected to the lower end of the drill pipe ill as at 12. The numeral 35 indicates fluid which is adapted to be pumped down into the drill pipe 19, and as the fluid 35 moves down through the drill pipe 10, the sampling device including the barrel. 13 will move downwardly. The downward movement of the disc 21, support member 18, and barrel 13 is accomplished by means of the fluid 35 which is pumped down through the various sections of the drill pipe 10. After the sample or core is received in the inner barrel 13, the direction of flow of the fluid 35 is reversed, that is, the fluid 35 can be sucked up through the drill pipe 10 by means of a suitable vacuum pump, and this upward movement of the drilling fluid is such that the sampling device within the barrel 13 can be moved upwardly again whereby the core or sample in the barrel. 13 can be removed from the barrel 11 and examined or studied in the usual manner, as for example, when geologists, mining engineers, or other persons engaged in mining operations, desire to ascertain the condition of the ground being worked.

In the assembly shown in FIGURE 4, when the fluid medium such as the fluid 35 is introduced down into the drill pipe 26, the core sampling device such as the barrel 13 which can be connected to the lower end of the rod 29, moves downwardly so that a core can be recovered at a desired depth below the surface of the ground. By reversing the flow of the fluid medium, that is by sucking out the fluid medium, the sampling device including the rod 29 and its associated parts can be brought to the surface of the drilling assembly whereby the core sample can be removed and studied or used for any desired purpose.

According to the present invention it will be seen that there has been provided an improved means of recovering cores from the ground, and the device of the present invention is especially suitable for use in soft formations. In the arrangement shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the set up is adapted to be used for pipes of the internal flush type, wherein the drill pipes have the same inside diameter all the way through. In FIGURE 4 there is shown a set up for use with an internal upset pipe as for example when the internal diameter of the pipe 26 is not uniform throu ghout.

It will be seen that there has been provided a reverse circulation core recovery apparatus which is adapted to spasms be dropped in the pipe at the top and wherein the device is adapted to be pumped down until the member 19 rests on the stop members 24 and the pressure of the pump pushes the rubber disc 21 downward from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 2 so as to compress the coil spring 23 until the disc 21 is out of the drill pipe and in the outer core barrel 11 so that the fluid can escape past or through the spaces between the stop members 24 and then through the outer core barrel 11 to the core bit or core head. Upon completion of the drilling operation of cutting the core, the pump is stopped and the pressure released on the spring 23 which permits the spring 23 to push the rubber disc 21 back up into the drill pipe so that the disc 21 returns from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 1 and this creates a seal and permits the release action of the pump to pump the inner barrel 13 back to the top by means of hydraulic action. In the drawings, the inner barrel 13 is connected to the support member 18 which is suspended by means of the member E engaging the stop members 24 and this serves the purpose of holding the inner barrel 13 at the exact distance from the coring bit or core head. In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated an internal fiush drill pipe 10 which has uniform diameter throughout its entire inner surface. The disc 21 is adapted to be made of heavy rubber which insures that there will be an effective seal both in the upward and downward pumping action. The spring 23, when contracted, permits the fluid to pass which is necessary in drilling and which when expanded, creates a seal which is necessary in an upward pumping action. The space between the stop members 24 permits the fluid to pass therethrough. The nut 25 can be adjusted on the bolt 20 whereby the tension from the spring 23 can be regulated as desired. A suitable coupling can be provided for connecting the barrel 11 to the drill pipe 19. In FIGURE 1 the parts are illustrated in non-pumping position, while in FIGURE 2 the parts are shown in pumping position.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a modification wherein the nut 31 is fixed on the upper end of the rod 29, while the block 32 is slidable on the rod 29. The spring members 34 may be secured as by means of vulcanization to the disc 33. The drill pipe 26 is of the internal upset type and the rod 29 is adapted to be connected to a suitable barrel such as the barrel 13, as for example, when internal upset drill pipe is being used. The nut 31 when its associated parts can be removed from the rod 2 9 when desired. The members 34 may be made of spring steel. The rod 29 and its associated parts are adapted to be used on top of a barrel such as the barrel 13 when internal upset drill pipe is being used. The number of springs 34 can be varied as desired and the purpose of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 is to pull the inner core barrel after it in the pipe when the pipe does not have uniform diameter all the way through. The spring 34 and rubber disc 33 are compressed when going through the smaller places 36 in the pipe 26 and these members 34 and 33 expand when going through the larger portions of the pipe as.

The above description of the invention is for illustrative purposes only and it is understood that modifications may be made in the construction within the scope and spirit of the following claim.

I claim:

An apparatus for removing and recovering core samples from a drilling area comprising a drill pipe, an outer core barrel arranged below said drill pipe and said outer core barrel having its upper end connected to said drill pipe, cutting teeth on the lower end of said outer core barrel, a plurality of stop members extending inwardly from said core barrel, an inner core barrel arranged within said outer core barrel, guide members projecting inwardly from the outer core barrel and said guide members engaging the outer periphery of said inner core barrel, a spacer member mounted in the upper end of said inner core barrel, a support member arranged above said inner core barrel, a securing element extending through said spacer member and said securing element being connected to the lower end of said support member, a body member arranged above said support member and said body member adapted to abut said stop members, a securing clement extending upwardly through said body member, a disc of resilient material mounted on the upper end of said last named securing element, said disc having an outside diameter which is generally the same as the internal diameter of the drill pipe, there being an enlarged chamber in the upper portion of said outer core barrel above said stop members, the diameter of said chamber being greater than the diameter of said disc, said disc being adapted for selective movement to and from said chamber and drill pipe, a fastener arranged above said disc and said fastener engaging the upper portion of the last named securing element, and a coil spring circumposed on said last named securing element and positioned between said disc and body member, there being a space between said stop members for permitting fluid to selectively pass therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

